Snow skate grind lock

ABSTRACT

The snow skate is a product with a similar appearance to a skateboard. The primary difference being the mini-ski on the bottom that allows for use on the snow. The freestyle maneuvers performed on the snow skate mimic those on a skateboard. Flip tricks, grabs, and slides are all possible with the current setups on the market today. The current setups do not allow for locking of these slides/grinds. My product, the snow skate grind lock, will have a more skateboard-like feel by allowing the rider to lock into slides and grinds.  
     On a skateboard locking into grinds and slides is accomplished through the use of the bottom of the truck&#39;s hangar, the wheels, the baseplate of the trucks, and the bottom of the deck. The bottom of the truck&#39;s hanger and the bottom of the skateboard deck are both covered by the preexisting snow skate mini-ski. The wedge of the snow skate grind lock imitates the wheels and the baseplate on the skateboard. The bottom of the skateboard truck&#39;s hanger with the inside wall of the wheels and the base of the deck with the baseplate of the truck both form near 90° angles. The addition of the snow skate grind lock will allow similar 90° angles for locking slides and grinds. Using four snow skate grind locks (placed much like that of skateboard wheels) will allow for the most skateboard-like trick potential.  
     When riding over snow the wedges will rise up as the ground pushes on the spring. Other ideas such as pivoting or sliding the entire device onto the top of the snow skate mini-ski will allow unhindered freeriding.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The snow skate grind lock is an addition to the existing product, the double-decked snow skate. The double-decked snow skate is a snow toy looking much like a skateboard. The upper deck consists of a skateboard deck covered in plastic snow grip. The lower deck is a twin-tipped mini-ski that rides on the snow. Connection of these two boards is made possible with plastic or metal trucks that act very similar to the trucks on a skateboard. The addition of my product, the snow skate grind locks, will allow the snow skate to lock onto grinds and slides in the same way wheels and base-plates allow locking on skateboard grinds and slides.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0002] The purpose of the snow skate grind lock is to allow the rider to lock the snow skate onto grind and slide tricks in a skateboard-like fashion. Currently double-decked snow skates offer no means of locking onto grinds. This limits the trick potential in the category of grinds and slides as your snow skate is left free to wander about while sliding or grinding. Single-deck snow skates often have grooves on their bases that allow locking of straight grinds. They allow no locking of perpendicular slides and have limited pop potential based on their single-deck design.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The first page shows views of the device from several different angles. The side view in the upper right depicts the wedge in the locked position. Below that the device is shown from an overhead view as it sits on top of the mini-ski. To the right of the page the device is shown from a front (or back) view in both the up and down positions, respectively. The next three pages consist of enlarged views of those on the first sheet with reference numbers relating to the following section.

A LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0004]1. Skate deck

[0005]2. Mini-ski

[0006]3. Wedge

[0007]4. Screws

[0008]5. Arm(s)

[0009]6. Baseplate

[0010]7. Rod

[0011]8. Spring

[0012] A Narrative Description of the Structure of the Invention:

[0013] The wedge is roughly one inch long from the tip to its top where it connects to the arm(s). Said arm(s) then travels down to the rod that is surrounded by the spring. Said rod connects on its ends with the baseplate. Said baseplate is attached to the mini-ski with a set of screws.

[0014] How the Snow Skate Grind Lock Works:

[0015] As you ride along the snow the grind lock wedges are moved up as the snow pushes upon them. The springs provide tension to keep them in the locking position when no force is pushing them from below. By placing the grind lock wedges at the edge of where the tip (or tail) curves upward tricks such as nosegrinds, noseslides, 5-0's, and tailslides are made possible. The inner side of the grind lock wedge will form a 90° angle with the base of the mini-ski that will allow locking of parallel grinds (much the way the inner side of a wheel and the bottom of the hanger on a skateboard truck will form a 90° angle). The front (or back) of the grind lock wedge will form a 90° angle with the base of the mini-ski that will allow locking of perpendicular slides (much the way the front (or back) of a skate truck will form a 90° angle with the skateboard base). The use of the lock release will allow the grind lock wedges to slide or pivot onto the top of the mini-ski, thus allowing unhindered freeriding when not hitting rails and ledges.

[0016] Conclusion:

[0017] The function of the snow skate grind lock is to lock onto the base of the object (typically a rail or ledge) in a fashion that allows the rider to control his board with many skateboard-like tricks. Variations on the design that produce this same result are covered with this patent. They include but they are not limited to: the use of alternate springing or non-springing systems with the grind lock plate, the use of twisting lock releases which let the grind lock wedges to be twisted in on the top of the mini-ski, use of other shapes in place of the wedge, etc . . . . 

1. A device mounted to the trucks or either deck of a snow skate, roughly consisting of a downward pointing extension apparatus with a means of tension pushing it towards the ground. 